Just got back from the Ports 1961 Sample Sale and you should go now. Not only did I score the amazing shrug (runway piece) seen above for $40, but also a gorgeous cashmere sweater for $35, a sheer sheath for $25, and a blue striped coat (which is beautifully finished inside) for $75. I’m on a high.

Ports 1961 Sample Sale

601 W. 26th Street, 8th floor

NYC | Today Only

The minute I tried on the extraordinary Stars of Africa rings by Royal Asscher my heart sank. Seriously, watching diamonds dance beautifully in a globe on my finger is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen – gorgeous!

By the way, my birthday is this month – on the 19th, actually. Also, this ring goes on sale at Neiman Marcus next week. Ok, I’m done. Now go back and look at those diamonds.

The first piece of the series was done on Ise White. I’m not really sure why I like Ise’s work so much, but I do and so thought I might share it with you here. To be honest with you, I can’t wait to see how her career grows and the future editor stories she’s able to create – see the feature here.

Other stories I’ve recently written that you might enjoy or find interesting?

• Let’s Hear it for the BOYY – I am OBSESSED with these handbags
• Go Ahead, Show Some Leg – Because you all always want to know which tights to buy
• Wow! Wow! Kapow! – AMAZING neck pieces that I die for
• English Eclecticism, Now in SoHo – A look at the new Crosby Street Hotel
• Getting the Perfect Fitting OTK Boot with Leather Spa
  

I always think that maybe I should just buy a costume and forego the pain, costs and drama of the DIY, but nooo. I’ll probably never buy a pre-made costume. Anyway. Hope you had a fabulous Halloween. My Oliver was a gorilla and his father was a big banana. Xx

Yesterday I stopped by a presentation for A La Disposition (I now want a coat with a bustle), I ducked into 2 events at store in SoHo, had dinner with my girlfriend and happened to see Dina, Yael and Tamar – otherwise known as the Magnes Sisters – towards the end of our meal.

Today I started off the day at a medioche presentation, met Kelly (a new favorite publicist of mine) at the Society of Illustrators to preview the new science fiction installation and have a quick bite in the cafe before heading out to meet LaQuan Smith and Telfar. Let me tell you guys – LaQuan Smith is awesome. He might have a lot to learn, but he’ll get there (and soon). I die for his neon dresses and sooo much more. (I’m also going to do a feature on him in the coming weeks for StyledOn, so you better start reading that as well!)

I watched Chanel Iman walk the runway for Rosa Cha (which was rather good, actually). I saw a few other things not worth mentioning. Unfortunately I missed the Cuz Love Killz show (a grafitti-inspired collection), which I really wanted to check out.

And then there was Fashion’s Night Out… and for me, it was all about Nicole Romano and the Plaza. Very successful event and I wore the sexiest little tuxedo shorts and one of her amazing tassel necklaces.

Tomorrow I have a crazy schedule: Alejandro Ingelmo (SHOES!!) | Yigal Azrouel | Copperwheat | Ideeen | Luca Luca | Nicole Miller | Costello Tagliapietra | Indashio | Persona Party with Amber Rose, Russel Simmons & Kanye West

I had better get a good night’s sleep because my toes are still numb and I can barely type. ‘night!!

I will be at Nicole Romano’s event during Fashion’s Night Out and you better be as well. Seriously – get all dressed up, wear some killer jewelry (or pick some up at Nicole’s store), enjoy some free wine, and be filmed for the designer’s upcoming Japanese fashion documentary.

Want to know more about Fashion’s Night Out, read my recent articles (here & here) on it for StyledOn…

So Fashion Week is upon us – time to start scoring some swag…

Get your YSL Manifesto this Saturday beginning at 12pm noon. Look for the YSL ambassadors passing out copies at the following locations in Manhattan:
Prince + Mott | Prince + Mercer | Bleeker + Charles | 15th + 10th |
Bryant Park | 57th + 5th | Madison + 71st

Wearing a simple ivory sheath, gold Chanel clutch, what appears to be leopard Louboutins (could be sequined?), gold mirrored sunnies, and a great statement necklace, our leading lady is looking fine. Mr Big – I mean, John – had better behave.

While this look is definitely one I would rock, I can’t wait for some of the more extreme fashion moments that you know are sure to come! Waiting for the shots of crazy OTK printed boots (or maybe the editorially-awesome laser-cut Stella McCartneys), some huge fur, an insane hat or two, Minx Nails, a new belt to lust after, crazy jewelry, and hopefully an epic battle of prints. Come on, Patricia Field, answer my prayers.

Sex and the City 2 is scheduled to be released on May 28, 2010 – start planning your outfits now, girls!

For more fabulous images of Carrie’s upcoming outfits, visit Tom & Lorenzo’s blog…

I love most everything Wang does, but this just seems a little too downtown for me. Perhaps if I were going to Coachella I would pair this with a simple white tank, some cutoffs, and my Hunter wellies. Who knows.

I’m sure plenty of people are dying over it right now and that Rumi will be rocking it soon on Fashion Toast, styling it over a white slip hanging lithely on her slim frame…

Personally, I’d rather take the $850 and add it to my OTK boot fund or to feed the need for Chloe’s Paraty seen below. What do you guys think? Love it or loathe it??

BTW – I’m taking ‘no comments’ as loathe.

While I’m pretty sure I’m going to be picking one of Rebecca Minkoff’s new Darling bags in black haze (which is really one of the best bags around) to drag from show to show, I’ve lusted after Chloe’s Paraty python tote since it sold out on Net-a-porter oh so long ago.

Well, the paraty is now back and looking better than ever! Sure, it costs as much as 3 pairs of sexy OTK boots, but damn is it fine. Definitely a bag to have and to hold for a very, very, very long time.

Of course, I may just have bag fever, because I’m also craving this little vintage 1960s Python Pierre Balmain beauty from Shrimpton Couture…*sigh*

I also managed to score some amazing finds at H&M recently, make a huge batch of bruschetta (which I haven’t done in years), sell a table on craigslist, fall deeper in love with True Blood, and try out the as-seen-on-tv Smooth Away hair remover.

And aside from staying awake & working every night until 3:30m, I feel I’m balancing work, family, friends and my boyfriend relatively well…sort of. I still haven’t booked my tickets to go back home for my (gulp) 10th year high school reunion. Gonna be Romy & Michele fo’ real!

BTW: I know some people out there are still twitter-phobes, but seriously, if you want to know what I’m into, follow me as I twitter for StyledOn…Xx

UPDATE: Shoes (and we’re talking Balenciaga, Pierre Hardy, Christian Louboutin, Mui Mui & more) have been marked down an additional 40% off at the Barneys Warehouse Sale.

You should go.
I’m going to go again and plan on having a very good time.

I’ve long been a fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (the book as well as the A&E version), but my love for it has just been rekindled with the release of Ruben Toledo’s couture-inspired book cover. Gorgeously drawn with oil, watercolor and pencil, the cover instantly modernizes the beloved classic, making it even more desirable than before.

Toledo has also created killer covers for the, in my opinion, less enjoyable reads of The Scarlet Letter and Wuthering Heights. Buy them all here for $16 a pop.

Patsy’s Pizzeria, a historical New York institution, will be celebrating its 76th Anniversary by charging patrons the same prices as during the Great Depression, when they opened this establishment in 1933. A 12oz. steak will be 90¢, an original coal oven pizza will be 60¢ and a soda, just two nickels.

For its 76th anniversary, Patsy’s Pizzeria will also host a pizza-eating contest between NYPD, FDNY and EMTs to benefit a worthy East Harlem student to further his/her educational goals. This year’s recipient, honor student Derrick Cox, is a young, multi-talented, striving individual. Derrick has received numerous awards for helping the homeless and is involved in many other charitable causes and organizations. He will be presented with a check for $2,500 so that he may complete his school year at St Agnes School for Boys.

A street naming ceremony will take place, in recognition of Patsy’s Pizzeria’s long history of success. The City Council of New York and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have honored Patsy’s Pizzeria of East Harlem by memorializing the city block of First Avenue between 117th and 118th Streets with a new honorary name: “Patsy Lancieri Way”.

A favorite of famous personalities past and present including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joe Dimaggio, Yogi Berra, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg, Patsy’s Pizzeria offers up some of the best food in town. The other day (while dining with the ever-charming designer Nicole Romano), we sat next to mega-producer, Jerry Bruckheimer and his wife.

So get your Choos first, jump on the 6, and then enjoy one of the best meals you’ll ever have for under $1!

Location: Patsy’s Pizzeria, 2287-91 First Avenue, New York NY, 10035 (Between East 117th/118th Streets)
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Although I don’t enjoy the show quite as much as the Real Housewives of New Jersey, the RZP is totally up there in my book. I love everything about the show and the shots of the fashion are just the glittering frosting coating it all.

So strap on a pair of your most fabulous, don some vintage bling, and stick a bow tie on a boy – this guarantees to be bananas. Can’t hardly wait.

The ridiculously enviable Jimmy Choo sandals above have been screaming my name for awhile now…and this Wednesday, I might just have to answer that call. Yes ladies, this is one sample sale you’ll want to take the day off for:

Jimmy Choo Sample Sale
Sky-High Heels Up To 70% off
One Day Only!!! Wednesday, Aug. 26, 09 | 1-6pm
Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St., at Sixth Ave.

Trust me, with a new pair of Choos, you’ll be running this town tonight.

It seems the entire (fashion) world is obsessed with the bloggers of Sea of Shoes, Fashion Rookie & Fashion Toast. (um, this post inspired by one on Fashionista.com)

Let’s start with Fashion Rookie. Tavi is 13 and loves to mix prints and play dress up. Ok, but as a 28 year old professional within the fashion industry, I personally see no connection between myself and her – and I just don’t get why others similar in age, etc. would become sooo into her. Sure, she’s really into fashion and living out her runway fantasies (which is lovely), but isn’t it a little weird for a bunch of 20-45 year old people to be worshiping the kid as if she’s the next Anna? Seems a little, um, not ok to me. She’s just too young and I wish she could blog without people noticing and asking her if they can adopt her or if she wants to become their little sister. When odd amounts of attention are given to children by adults, things never seem to go well. Tavi will appear on the cover of Pop, as well as in the new issue of LOVE – let’s hope she handles it all as well as she does those crazy headpieces she’s obsessed with.

Next, Sea of Shoes. I certainly love most of her mother’s Jane’s pieces, but that’s really all there is to that. Both Jane and her mom were featured in a recent issue of Vogue. Apparently Jane is also modeling for people’s look books, as well as having her own capsule collection of footwear for Urban Outfitters (the styles, in case you are wondering, are not that flattering on – I tried them the other day and was a bit sad at the outcome). She’ll probably end up being big in Japan.

Now we have Fashion Toast. Rumi is a cute girl, sure, but enough with pouting and looking sexually starved. A very immature girl that I used to work with loooooved this blog. She thought the girl looked so cool and tried to copy her style. I do like that she’s always been one to really embrace lower end brands and mix them up effectively. If you like Alexander Wang, well, so does Rumi. She is now signed with Next Model Management. The campaigns she has shot and shared via her blog simply look like her typical posts, which effectively brand her, but not the companies she shooting for.

Actually, I appreciate all of these bloggers a great deal (especially the fact that they blog more regularly than I do) and visit their sites periodically, but I don’t think I’ll ever be as psycho-retarded obessed with them personally the way many others seem to be.

The blogs I am currently crushing on, however, are The Selby and Jak & Jill. Granted, many other people love these blogs too, but they are very different from the ones above as they do not seem so blogger-centric. Perhaps I just like the pretty pictures and the shoes that are often seen in them. (Ed. Note: Although the picture to the right features none of the shoes I speak of, it is from The Selby).

Question: Are there any blogs (besides this insanely popular and crush-worthy one) that you’re into? Why do you like them? Is it the people themselves or what they are writing about/showing you?

PS. If you notice any glaring typos it could be due to the fact that I’m missing an N key, or that I am just ridiculously exhausted and should have gone to sleep hours ago. ]]> http://thoseextra4inches.com/2009/08/blog-lovin-the-selby-over-tavi-sea-of-shoes-etc/feed/ 2 http://thoseextra4inches.com/2009/08/moving-on-down-a-look-at-my-new-apartment/ http://thoseextra4inches.com/2009/08/moving-on-down-a-look-at-my-new-apartment/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:12:42 +0000 casey http://thoseextra4inches.com/?p=1687 Well, I’ve moved apartments. I now have a Starbucks on my corner a handful of sushi places to order from. My son’s room is huge and awesome and my shoes almost fit into my closets. At this point I am very tired of cardboard boxes and readily admit that I own too much clothing.  (I also managed to drive a 17′ Uhaul through the Upper East Side of Mahattan without killing a soul – clearly the move was meant to be.)

Love the door knob, poor paint job and all.

Fragrances, notecards, Kidrobot, and a good luck charm. Btw, the lucite box is from cb2, retails for about $20 and I want 6 more.

A few of some of my precious shoes…

Too many scarves. Unhung pictures. My favorite gladiator sandals from H&M.

Me in my new, huge, fabulous mirror from Ikea. Dare you to find a better one for under $100.

Another Kidrobot (I’m obsessed), my lone Marc Jacobs python platform, some books – sci.fi. mostly.

Last but not least: the Panda trash can from the Container Store. Money well spent.

I would love to show you my new couch, but unfortunately, we were sent a blue one when we ordered brown so that (and perhaps bits and pieces of the rest of the place) will have to come later on.

Not only did I score an incredible Pierre Cardin dress (that I am absolutely rocking during NY Fashion Week), but also a ton of great little pins and brooches (paid a whopping $8 for 5 of them). I’ll definitely be heading back out to the Brooklyn Flea for some of those fabulous home decor pieces as well – there was one small table that I was this-close to buying.

Also spotted: Vintage Escada, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, old skeleton keys (which I’m obsessed with), antique door knobs, tons of jewelry, great beaded clutches, and even a DIY beer kit.

And while not quite the same as shopping in the also DUMBO-based, ultra chic boutique Zoe, the flea market has a wonderful charm to it. Its fun to bargain with people for a few bucks (if I save even $2, it’ll pay for another cup of coffee!), try on clothing that your grandmother probably threw out, and re-imagining your space filled with vintage posters from the 50s. I left with my head simply swimming in new ideas.

The Brooklyn Flea takes place every weekend in two locations and you really should bother to get out there: Every Saturday in Fort Greene (10am-5pm), and every Sunday under the Brooklyn Bridge on the waterfront in DUMBO (11am-6pm). See here for directions and much more.

Balmain’s ridiculously chic (and expensive (and sold-out)) Leather Motorcycle Jacket

Prada’s practically perfect Over-the-Knee Boots

Mr. Wiggles Sculpture | Black Edition, 2008, Tara McPherson at KidRobot (of course)

Barneys’ Rhino Bookends – although there isn’t enough room on my shelves for the actual books themselves, so I don’t know how this would ever work…

West Villiage Loft by Daniel Frisch. High ceilings, a suspended library above the kitchen… just needs some good artwork and huge walk-in closets.

The very violet quilted Amalia Bag by Lanvin (although I’m really crushing on Lanvin’s entire handbag collection a ton right now)

]]> http://thoseextra4inches.com/2009/07/the-current-lust-list-what-im-yearning-for/feed/ 1 http://thoseextra4inches.com/2009/07/call-it-puppy-love/ http://thoseextra4inches.com/2009/07/call-it-puppy-love/#comments Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:58:42 +0000 casey http://thoseextra4inches.com/?p=1652 Last Friday, my boyfriend and I picked up the newest member of our family at the airport – a sweet little Havanese furball named Crosby.

After searching far and wide for the little guy for the past couple months, we picked him up on a sunny morning and he is simply everything we hoped for and more.

Getting a puppy is in so many ways similar to having a baby (and I would know as I now have both); We spent hours deciding upon a name, which was of course settled upon the night before. We had to puppy-proof our apartments. We had to research and buy him the  best bed, toys, special food, bowls, carrier, etc.

We have taken something like 1,765 pictures of him already.  We obviously think that he is so much better than every other puppy that has ever been born - ever.

This morning, our little Mr. Perfect had diarrhea an hour before I had a deadline. Runny and smelly, his poo ended up on the wee-pads (yay!) and on the carpet (no!). Then he tried to eat British Vogue and my pillow (drop it!) before rummaging through my immense scarf collection and biting at my favorite ring from Baccarat. Needless to say, my deadline was pushed back.

And although there are now millions of tiny pieces of shreaded paper all over my apartment and things that were once mine have now been deemed his, he is still the cutest puppy that ever was and ever will be. Right now, he is fast asleep near my foot and looks darling.

If you do not have a puppy I suggest you get one immediately - no pair of shoes has ever made me this happy.